Weightless

16) Mistakes

25th of May 2017 (1 month and 15 days later)

There has to be nothing more irritating than slightly too loose trousers.

It's bittersweet - this gives proof that Ethan has dropped weight, but it means that the majority of his clothes are much too big. Ethan, desperately doing his best to appreciate the better things in life, appreciates the sweeter side and disregards the bitter.

In a month and a half, roughly, not much has changed. Only the number on the scale. Ethan's energy is going down, as ever, but he has enough gathered to go for a run today. Fortunately, both Cal and Mollie are at work, meaning that no suspicion will occur. Perfect.

After skipping breakfast, Ethan heads out. It's actually his first run in months. Of course, it won't help his spinning head, but it'll be fine. It will.

Today, he's had a cup of green tea. Usually, he has black coffee but green is renowned for weight loss. It's enough to keep him going. The pricking of hunger pains in his stomach will stop eventually - and if not, he'll relieve them with a cracker or something, for lunch or tea. Just to stay conscious at least.

Down the narrow of the street is where he runs - the same route as he's taken in the past. It's safe. Nobody he knows lives down there.

He's shattered almost as quickly as he's begun. His legs have a dreadful ache from the inside out, and his throat battles the cold it engulfs in heaving breaths. He needs relief, he does, but he can't allow himself it. More needs to be done before he deserves a break, or he'll hate himself later.

A road is in sight. He continues running with weak strides toward it. The glaring light of the morning finds its way into his eyes as he runs across the road.

Somehow, it doesn't cross his mind to check left and right. It isn't the main road, it's not busy. He'll be fine, he figures, as he makes his way across it.

And that is his first mistake of the day.

A deafening noise pierces his ears - a horn. Subsequently, a brutal impact of a hard blow hits into his left side. He's knocked straight to the ground, in the very middle of the road.

Traffic comes to an immediate standstill.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Lily slides the notes back into the pocket by her patient's bed. "Back soon."

"Alright, Doctor."

She gives her patient a nod before leaving the cubicle. Sighing, she folds her arms over her chest as she walks to the almost empty nurse's station.

There is a blissful almost-silence in the air - which is always unexpected on the golden occasion it occurs, considering she works in an emergency department. The serenity seems to be in everyone. Cal is standing by Mollie - his latest girlfriend, who has lasted for far longer than Lily had anticipated - and seems to be appreciating this greatly.

Lily wishes she could too. Truly. As much as she relishes the hustle and bustle of the busy department, it's always fantastic to have a break. And she's always been the appreciative sort, who focuses on the good rather than the bad.

Today, she can't. Right now? She can't get her mind of Ethan. He's dramatically slimmed down in the last months and nobody else seems to have noticed - not to mention his extremely questioning behavior, especially at Charlie and Duffy's wedding and prior. They may not be perfect friends presently, but she can't switch of the button in her mind where her care for him is.